DCU launches new Centre for Digital Business

A new research centre focussing on digital technologies and their transformation of business has been launched at Dublin City University.

The Irish Institute for Digital Business (IIDB) takes over from the Irish Centre for Cloud Computing & Commerce (IC4 – a national technology centre funded by Enterprise Ireland and the IDA since 2011) and has an expanded remit to include social media, mobile technologies, big data analytics, blockchain, and Internet of Things research.

A core part of the new centre will be DOTLAB, a dedicated space in DCU Business School for applied digital optimisation and transformation research. DOTLAB will host Irish and international researchers from industry and academia to pursue research on six key themes: (1) The Future of Finance; (2) The Future of Work; (3) The Future of Sales and Marketing; (4) The Future of Information Systems; (5) The Future of Operations & Logistics; and (6) The Future of Governance.

The Irish Institute of Digital Business will feature over 28 faculty members and full-time researchers, making it the largest concentration of digital business researchers in Ireland.

Led by Professor Theo Lynn from DCU’s Business School, the centre aims to transfer research insights and outcomes to multiple audiences, to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies, optimise digital processes and, as a result, transform those businesses.

Speaking at the launch of IIDB, Professor Lynn said: “Through the government’s investment in the Irish Centre for Cloud Computing and Commerce (IC4), DCU researchers have been actively working with organisations in Ireland to understand the business value of cloud computing and accelerate adoption of the cloud. The IIDB builds on the seven years of research completed at IC4, recognises the wide range of digital business research being undertaken across DCU, and consolidates this research capacity into one new institute. Researchers, industry and policymakers will be able to leverage the expanded research expertise and capacity to solve real-world problems today, tomorrow and beyond.”

Welcoming the news, President of DCU, Prof. Brian MacCraith, said: “The launch of IIDB marks the beginning of the next chapter in better understanding digital technologies within a business environment. A successor to IC4, the Centre will comprise theoretical and applied research on the critical tools and trends that are shaping business today. I look forward to seeing the valuable outputs from the IIDB over the coming years as digital technologies and their role within the workplace continue their rapid and relentless evolution.”

Anne Sinnott, Executive Dean of DCU Business School, also commented: “One of DCU Business School’s main pillars is its focus on industry engagement. With the launch of the Irish Institute of Digital Business, we will be able to provide industry with access to leading-edge business research to help them adopt technologies, grow their businesses and compete internationally.”